"I've not forgotten," he answered with an effort, "but the favor you ask is one I cannot conscientiously grant." She laughed disagreeably. "Since when has your conscience become a factor in your affairs?" He could have throttled her for her insolence, but she gave him no chance to reply. "Supposing I insist?" "Insist?" Was she threatening him? She answered coldly-- "That's what I said." "Do you mean"--his voice dropped to an incredulous whisper--"that you are threatening to betray Augusta to attain your end?" "I don't like to be thwarted for a whim--a senseless piece of sentiment. This contract means too much to me." "But do I understand aright?" She gloated as she saw his fading color. "Do you intend to say that the price of your silence is this contract?" "Something of the sort," she replied in cold stubbornness. The full knowledge of her power swept over him; the helplessness of his position filled him with sudden fury. He sprang to his feet and hurled his cigar through the open window. His thick fingers twitched to choke the insolent smile from her face. "You traitor! You blackmailer!" She arose leisurely. "Unpleasant words--but there are others as unpleasant." With his hands thrust deep in his trousers pockets Symes faced her, eyeing her with an expression which would have made most women wince but which she returned with absolute composure. She was in control of the situation and realized it to the full. Symes was speechless nearly in the face of such effrontery, such disloyalty, such ingratitude. "You would sacrifice your best friend for money!" "Business is business, and I'm out for the stuff, as I told you, but there's no sense in letting it come to that. I don't _want_ to do it, so don't be a fool!" Symes groaned; she had attacked him in his most vulnerable spot, namely, his horror of scandal, of anything which would besmirch the name of which he was so inordinately proud. This pride was at once his strength and his weakness. "And if I permit myself to be blackmailed--there is no use in mincing words--if I give you this contract in exchange for my wife's good name are you willing to consider every obligation wiped out?" Her eyes flashed their triumph at this quick collapse of his stand. "I am." "And, furthermore, will you agree to discontinue your visits to my house?" "Why?" There was hard bravado in the question. "Your influence is not good, Dr. Harpe." "What does Augusta say?" "I've not consulted her." "And the contract is mine?--that is settled?" "So long as you keep your word." She smiled enigmatically. "I'll keep my word." A fumbling at the door ended the interview, for it opened to admit a white-faced woman with a child moaning in her arms. "Oh, Doctor, I'm so glad you're here!" she cried in relief. "He's been like this since early this morning and I brought him in town as quick as I could. Is it anything serious?" "Come here, my little man."